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Continue reading →: My Weekend of OverreactingIn which Phil freaks out over a minor brain cramp, tests himself, and concludes he’s still okay. Probably. Bonus: a tiny hamster eating tiny burritos, “Hotel California” if it had been played by a different, highly-regarded band, and an Eastern European orchestra performing an Ike & Tina Turner hit to the best of their ability.
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Continue reading →: Overcoming Barriers to ExerciseExercise is the only thing proven to slow the progression of Parkinson’s — but even as we need it more, many of us do it less. Barriers can be physical, financial, or motivational. Here are some ways to get past some of the barriers so you can get started.
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Continue reading →: Parkinson’s Is Salesforce: A 5am EpiphanyOn some days, the fight against Parkinson’s takes on the characteristics of my sales career — if we don’t do the right things consistently, the results will hold us accountable. Bonus: a Motorhead cover with a horn section and a Jimmy Page guitar solo done bluegrass-style.
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Continue reading →: We Missed the PlaneParkinson’s adds a layer of uncertainty to our plans, and can really do a number on our risk tolerance. I didn’t realize how much mine had been affected until we attempted to plan a trip to Japan. Bonus: a startling Public Service Announcement from 1969, and a ska version of the “Get Smart” theme.
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Continue reading →: Awareness and Action: Your Voice MattersAs Parkinson’s Awareness Month gets underway, now’s the time to make Congress aware of the need to preserve crucial research funding. Here are some ideas on how to get noticed.
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Continue reading →: A New AI-Driven Free ResourceA new, AI-driven (and, for now, free) online service called AskShan will answer your questions about Parkinson’s. Also, an opportunity to participate in the Parkinson’s Disease Experience Survey. Bonus: the (maybe) first rap record ever made, by a 64-year-old man in 1968, and the only Sammy Hagar record I’ve ever liked.
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Continue reading →: Elections, Consequences, and Parkinson’s“Burn it all down” comes with collateral damage. The recent NIH medical research cuts will affect all of us in the Parkinson’s community…and millions of others awaiting a cure for chronic diseases. Here’s a summary of where things stand, and what we as voters can do about it.
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Continue reading →: Can I Age In Place?My mom refused to plan for the day when she couldn’t live independently anymore. She made it into her late 80’s before her luck ran out… and her children had to figure out what to do in a hurry. We’re trying not to stick our kids with the same problem, but inertia has been an…
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Continue reading →: The Shaking Shoelace — a Technique for a Faster Diagnosis?In the early stages of PD, tremors can be tough to detect. Here’s the story of a neurologist who spotted one… with the help of a shoelace. Also…a Led Zeppelin song played on an unusual instrument.
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Continue reading →: Should We Just Eat Sugar Pills?For those of us searching for a way to hold Parkinson’s back, there are lots of treatment options. Many of them don’t have a lot of formal clinical evidence showing that they work — but they work for some people, sometimes. The placebo effect is a not-particularly-well-understood medical phenomenon. Recent “open label” placebo trials indicate…
Hello,
I’m Phil Bernstein
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease on May 25, 2023. At the time, I was only vaguely aware of Parkinson’s — primarily from articles in People about Michael J. Fox. And I didn’t know anyone with the disease.
Now, I know a lot more about the illness, and I’ve joined the Parkinson’s community in my hometown of Portland, Oregon.
I’ve found that writing helps me think through challenges, and this illness definitely qualifies as a challenge. I’ve started Shakin’ Street to help me think through the various obstacles, tools, and resources that a newly-diagnosed Parkinson’s patient encounters along the way.
I hope some of these posts help you address and tackle your own challenges.
Shakin' Street -- A Parkinson's Blog 